Milking barn



Sept- 16, 1952 R. R. GRAVES 2,610,608

MILKING BARN ATTORNEY R. R. GRAVES sept. 16, 1952 MILKING BARN 5v sheets-sheet 2 Filed Oct. 25, 1947 Roy f?, @1F/f INVENTOR BY JW FIGURES xjizgj.'

ATTORNEYl Sept. 16, 1952 R. R. GRAVES 2,610,608

MILKING BARN Filed Oct. 23, 1947 -5 Sheets-Sheet 5 .NIH IlIIIHIHIIIIIIHIIIIIIII llllllllll |IIHIIILIIHHIHIHIIIIIIIIIIIIJr 65 ATTORNEY Sept' 16, 1952 R. R. GRAVES 2,610,608

' MILKING BARN Filed 0G11. 25, 1947 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 ROY R. GFVE-S INVENTOR BY 725. @www ATTORNEY R. R. GRAVES -MILKING BARN sept. 16, 1952 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Oct. 25, 194'? R Y O E kSZ/ga.

Patented Sept. 16, 1952 MILKING BARN Roy R. Graves, Valparaiso, Ind., assignor, by

direct and mesne assignments, to The Graves- Stambaugh Corporation, a corporation of Dela- Ware Application October 23, 1947, Serial No. 781,602

9 Claims.

walls and a floor for accommodating the cows to be milked. A substantially square operators pit is located in the center of the floor for accommodating the operator at substantially eye level with the udders of the cows. Four cow stalls are supported on the oor with a cow stall located at each edge of the operators pit. Each. cow stall includes an-inner barrier at the edge of the pit, an outer barrier spaced from the inner barrier to accommodate a cow therebetween, an entrance gate and an exit gate. The outer barriers of the cow stalls are spaced from the barrier walls of the substantially square room to provide a'normally uninterrupted cow passage about the four tcow stalls.

The entrance and exit gates of the cow stalls rare hinged at the outer barriers of the cow stalls to be swung outwardly into the cow passage toward the barrier walls of the substantially square room vfor directing cows in a single direction in the cow passage and into and out of the cow stalls. f An entrance and exit cow runway enters the substantially square room adjacent one corner thereof and it has a central barrier extending across the cow passage to a point between the nearest entrance gate of one cow stall and thenearest exit trolled by the operatorfrom thevoperators pit individually opens and closes the entrancey and exit gates ofV each cow stall.

Thus, as each cow to be milked enters the milking parlor through the entrance runway, it moves along the cow passage until it is directed into a vacant stall by the manipulation of the entrance and exit gates by the operator.l After a cow has been milked, it is directed bythe operator through manipulation of the entrance and exit gates into the cow passage and Vout of the milking parlor through the exit runway. -Each cow stall is provided with a milking machine and .a weigh jar under the control of the operator in the pit for milking the cow in that stall and inspecting and weighing the milk. rThe withdrawn milk is then transferred under the control of the yoperator in the pit to a tank outside ofiv the milking parlor. Before applying the milking machines to the cows, the operator thoroughly Vwashes and cleans the rcows udderss-an'd teats.

Thisffour stall arrangementaboutxthe` central Vgate of an adjacent cow stall. Mechanism conoperators pit provides maximum plural milking of cows by a single operator in a minimum of time withl expenditure o f minimum effort and with minimum fatigue. The central operators pit is relatively small and all necessary cow directing, milking and cleaning equipment is readily available to the operator whose walking steps are kept at a minimum. The time for preparing and milking each cow is such that a single operator in this four stall milking parlor can perform substantially continuous milking of cows without delay and without undue effort.

To make the dimensionsl of the substantially square operators pit as small as possible and, hence, to ease the effort expended by the operator, the four cow stalls are preferably so arranged that the forward end of each cow stall overlaps the rear end of the next succeeding cow stall. The edges ofthe Iioor at the central operators pit are provided with an; upwardly `extending curb and the floor slopes gradually downwardly from the curb to the barrier walls of the substantially square room.- An open `drain is provided in the floor adjacent the barrier walls and extends around'the room so that the floor may be flushed from the pit and drained in a direction awayl from the operators pit. Each cow stall may also be provided with anl open drain communicating with the outer drain to assist in iiushing and draining the floor.

The oor and curb preferably overhang the operators pit to provide freedom of movement of the operator at the `edges of the pit. `The curb, which prevents cows from slipping into the pit :and which aids in keeping the pit clean, isprovided with recesses near the rear of each stall to provide uninterrupted accessto the udders of the cows from the operators pit. Pipes connecting to the milking machines, weigh jars and hot and cold water connections in the pit are located out of the way under the overhanging portion of the floor.v The barriers forming the cow stalls, the entrance and exit gates, the pipes and ttings are preferably all made of stainless steel to' provide best sanitary conditions and pleasing appearance.

Otherobjects of this invention reside in the Adetails of construction of the milking barn or parlor of this invention and in the cooperative relationship between the component parts therewith these and other rented ends lm view i illustrate on the accompanying drawings such instances of adaptation as will disclose the broad .underlying principles of the invention without limiting myself tothe specific details shown thereon and described herein. z f Y Fig. 'l is atop plan viewy of a milking pit associated withv four separate stalls and a continuous external runway, the gates being opened and all the stalls empty.l e l f Fig. is a detached section 'through a milking opration recess.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged elevation in section of a lamp mounted on each one ofthe' four lsides toa stall. Fig. 7 is an elevation of a barrier to a stall and s hinged gate. Fig. 8 lis -a diagrammatic elevation :of weighing and storing Ifacilities.

Fig. 9 is an elevationinsectionsnowing Ytneadd :milk

`instable support -for the milking machine .receiv-Y i'ng pan.

Fig'. 10 is a pian view of the support .shown Fig. -11 'is' a detached View, in plan of :the eievating means shown :in Figures 9 'and 10.

Fig. 12 is an elevation `of :a self Weighing :milk

container.

Fig. 13 is a pian view or Fig. 12'. Y

Fig. 14 isa detached elevation .ofraimilking 'receiving pan.

Fig. 15 is a plan `View of a por-tion fcif :Fig i1 showing inter-connected gate controls.

`Fig. -16 is a detached .plan `view of .one 'of Lthe gate controls.

Fig. 17 is a detachedpian of anLoperating 'lever :for opening andclosing the gates.

Fig. 18 is an assembled-electric.latch for holdving -a 'gateclosed 19 iis-an enlarged-elevationin sectionfoifig. i on line Ese-I9 showing the serving recess of Astall (one) I and vin elevation the recess of stallII.

Fig. V-20 is avdiagrammatic p'lan'view of '.theiautomatic locking veature of -ahand lever, .cranks fand connecting link for holding agate closedonfdead centers.

Fig. 21 is a flow sheet.

In practicing my invention I may use whatever vmodifieations or changes that the exigencies of var-ying conditions may demand without departing from kthe ybroadspirit of the invention.

The structure of my milking barn is .closely r associated with kmy co '-pendin'g f application,Serial v1510.-'581561-9 or -l'ay Barn nledfJuly 5, .1946; and Serial iNo. 697,018 for CowBarn nledsepteinber The cow barn is directly-connected to the milking barn by two separate adjacently located passages, one for cows going to be milked and one for cows returning from the milking barn.

There are four `milking stalls, numbered respecti-vely, I, Iii, III, and IV. To each of these 'stalls there is a hinged entrance Agate `3 .and a lhinged exit gate a. There .is 'an external runway rorfcow -passage '5 that is connected to runway l leading tothe cowbarn. The arrowsin'runways 6 and of Fig. l indicate the direction that .the

cows will move in the two runways. The runway -leads `from the vcosvbain to runway '5 .of :the

from the external runwayfby--a barriervLS. The' Fig. 3.

curb 2 at the entrance of each stall isextended .forwardly at l5J for the `width of eachstall. At the exit of stall IV there is' diagonal 'partition or barrier i0 which diverts incoming cows through passage 6 to the external passageway or alley 5. The cement oor' 413 of the stalls and the cement iidor H of runway are on the same level as the .bottom of the curb 2 formed around the pit. l"'.lhere is van external barrier wall 33 which enlcloses the'entiremilking area,'Fig. 1.

The drainage of the milking areas is shown in This includes an external drain Il inside of the external barrier wall 33 and short drains f8 between the alley 5 and the stalls I-IV. These short drains connect to the drains Il at point I9 within the milking area. Thedrains along side the runways 6 and il are designated by the-:numeral 2Q. These drains ior coves :may 'be modified as desired.

This arrangement of the open drain permits .the quick flushing of the noors 4l l and 40 to promote the utmost Vin sanitation'within the Vmilking barn and vto enable .the operator Vto quickly :re` Vmove .any signs of misightly droppings.

This -is accomplished by the correlated slopeof thenoors and by the surface vdrains which avoid the clogfging `that 'underground drains :are subject `'to `when the droppings Yof a vconsiderably vnurnberof cows must be 4 taken care o'f continuously. Furthermore, .these surface drains vbeing :readily cleaned are less liable to give off bad odors. Y The ,crown or center line between passages 'S :and I is `raised. slightly and slopes 'toward each sideand the level :of .the flo-or lill next to vthecurb .2 is also slightly raised above the outer edge or the floor i l `the alley 5 to form a natural slope outward from the curb 2. The highest point of Vthe drain l1 will be .approximately inside of the external Wall .33 yand .in .the corner .adjoining the front gate 'ofstall II.

`The slopeY of the 'floors 4Q and H .is shown in Fig. 4. A drain 48 leads out from the v:door ofthe Aoperator-Spit I also shownin Figurei.

The curb2 overhangsthe pit .I at 39. YI'hisjmakes vit possible to position all the service 'pipes and .the .electric wiring for the spot lights 3.4 .under Vthis oyerlrang where they will .be out of sight. contrast to this method of disposingof `,the servicev pipes, conventional milking :barns give .one

the impression through .the vmultiplicity .of lthe posts and so forth 'as 4though .one v.were looking at a forest. Keeping all the pipes .under .the 4overhang lpermits shortened pipe lengths, the pipesa-remoreraccessible for repairs, and .they .do

- not collect dust.

'lfeet and -kneeswhile placing the lmilking .equipment on the cow. There-isa conduit for theser- Vicepipes leading .to a v processing'room .(not

`shown) in whichthe vacuum receiving .tank .3Q

Ais located, `shown diagramnratioallyin Fig. 8. ,If

desiredthe connecting conduit'between'the milking pit and the-processing room (not shown) may vbe divided into .two parts to separate the service 'pipe.::52 iormilk transfer lfrom the ,other service are covers 3|.

inthe stalls with their udders directly over the pipes. There is asupplyp'ipe 86 connectingy the processing tank 89 with the milk line 82. A control valve 81is located between'the pipes 82 and 86. The rnilk'line 8 6 -issimply -av continuation of the' milk line 82'. There 4an'outlet 9|"from the processing tank' 89 that has a control valve 99. At the bott-in of the tank 89 there is a vacuum line control valve 88. The sanitary milk line 82 may be easily ltaken out forwashing, land replaced when necessary.v i

Between the entrance Vgates 3 andthe curb 2 of each stallthere is :a iioor 'opening leading to the' milking equipment recess 44 over which there When" the cows lare in position recesses 44 thegcover 3| is lremoved andthe milk# ing equipment is pu't intooperation' to bring the milk 'receiving pan 52 directly'under an udder, Figs. 9 and1'9. Thecovers 3| prevent the cows stepping into milking areas 44W-hile entering the 'stallawand when the milking iscompleted the cover is replaced lso, that as the cow leaves the stall it will likewise'lne protected against stepping into the ymilking areav` 'The curb 2 may beraised about 12in-ches more o rless Iabove the Astall :ilo'orsgll but opposite the milkin-g areas 44 the `curb is cutaway to give the operatormorereadyacc-ess to washing the cows udderand attaching thejteat cups thereto.

A vshort length of hosefrom pipe 41 venables the operator' 4to quickly :and easily wash the udder of the cow and also to wash oi theloor of the stall. Lamps 34 are protected by heat resistant or tough glass 45,`Figure 6. This arrangement overcomes the obstacle of conventional overhead lighting which invariably 'casts a shadow from the cows body on the v-udder iwhich makes itY Valmost impossible to'do hygienic milking. This is Iparticularly `true inwinter whenjthe Arnilking'is usually done :before.and'afterdaylight1 The lampcovers 43are preferably made'of 'shatterprooff glass or special bactericidal characteristics.

'L .Insteadof the conventional v,valve shown in the pipe41 a'ball valvemay be' substituted so as to turnlthe water on V,Whenja short length rubber hose. not shoWnLis'raisedjto raise the Water on "the, cows udderyandwhenthe tube'l is dropped the water. is automatically shut joii, Figfl. V`The kfreev end of the (hose, is. 'supplied with a conventional spray-head;v 'Whenthevwashng is oo mplet'ed the milker uses a paper towel to dry the j'udder andi'the teats, it Yimportant that the AWater is .always `Warm and maintained at the V`same temperature for washing for this warm water eiects' the nervous system in such a manr nerajsgto result in a rapid and complete letting down of the milk. This insures a more complete land rapid milking oljeach' cow.

The milking equipment 'and its control is shownr in'Figures 9 and 19 of 'Sheets 3 and 5. After all the washinghas been completed the coversy 3| are removed from the milking recesses 44 ,andthemilk receiving pan 52 israised rto bring ,it under the cowsudderas shown in dotted linesonFig. 19.' The'milk receiving 'pan 52, Fig. 14, is supportedon'a horizontally adjustable arm 58,Fig.'1,0, andithas a boss l53 from which a projection`54 depends. This projection has a arm58 is raised into position and lowered after groove55 engaged bya releasing catch 56. The

vacuumline 95 is .connected conventionally to the vacuum cups. 'There isan outlet from the receiving p an'i52 through pipe 51 which leads ythrough pipes -.64 and .85 to the weighing con'- tainer15.,k Y..

The milk receiving pail 52 supprtd'cn 'the -ber of gates 3 'and' 4 is 26.

hang 39. A pinion 1| engages the teeth 64,:(Fig'. -11, also'Flgs. 9 and 10 of Sheet 3) and is turned by aicrank 12Which has bearing in a boss 13 of the cap 68.

lTo the cap 68 thereis attached an outer cap 69, 4both of these caps forming an enclosing casing for the rack 63. In order to automatically lock the rack bar' 63 in anyv vertical position there'is a dog or a pawl 49 that engages the teeth 64, and it is attached to a short spindle 4| on which there is a spring 5|, Fig.10.` At the. outer end of the spindle 4| therer isan operating lever 14. As the rack 63 is raised by the operation of turning the crank 12 the paWl 49 Aengages the rack 63 tooth by tooth." When the milking operation is completed the operatori' disengages Ithe pawl^49from theteeth 64 by means of theV hand lever 14 while the-weight of the rackand its attachments is under the control of pinion1| and the crank 12. This unique method of arranging a milking barn with a unitary pit, Fig. 1, with a milking stall on each of its four sides, makes it easier to produce clean milk, and also easier to get more milk in'a shorter milking period.

The barrier 8 is formed of stainless steel tubes which maybe arranged as shown in Fig. 19 or modified as desired. 'The gates y'3 and 4 are hinged to vertical posts as shown in Fig. 15, posts |5 for gates 3 and posts I3 for gates 4.Y There are latching posts I2 for gates 3 `and@ Vand there are stops |4 on the outerbarrier 33for gates 4 vand stops |6"for gates 3. The latch posts I2 for gates 3 and 4maybe provided if desiredwith an electric catch, Fig. 18, in which'there is a stop 50 on the posts 24, and a'beveled latch 2 that is pressedin a Iforward direction 'by spring 22. `.A

magnet 23 will move'the catch v2|-against the spring 22 when a push button 25 is closed in'an 'electric circuit which includes the magnetl 23.

The latch post 24 of Fig. 18=is the post on the diagonal barrier ofFigLil.` The hinged mem- Itis `hinged to'posts 24 or |2by hinges A42,v Figs. '1 and 19. There is a oor plate and sleeve 21, a top collar 28, and a bottom collar 29 onthe member26. The bottom collar 29 holds the gate on the sleeve` 21v and a top collar 28 abutting a hinge v42` prevents the 'gate lbeing lifted. At the bottom end of the member-.26 on'the'underside ofA the, oor :there is a crank 30 which isconne'cted to-an'operating link 38 for opening and closing the gates.

As shown in Figures" -17 gate operating levers'and links are shown as A'positioned beneath the floor.'l Thisstructure requires v the co-operation of bell crank levers k35 whichiserve as hand levers, these are pivoted at 36 and they have a short extension 31 that is connected to linksv 38.

The modification shown in Fig. places vthe link 36 in a raised position'instead of beneath the Afloor as shown in Figures 15-17. 'I'he ycrank -is placedion an extension of v26v and the links 38 connect it to a vcrank v66' above the center 36 and at the bottoin'fof 36 on thetop surface gemenos 'iszprovided to prevent the .hand Vlever T10 being `moved too tar. In the :adaptation showngin 'Figures l5-:i1'7 dzhe handles itc operate :the gates are .located .beneathuthefloor f4.0 and the overhang-39 :but irrFig.'20 the handle 21.0 and ithestop .92 .arennithe .upperif'ace pf ithe w.curb 1,

The'zmilk :is freer-lived rfrom :the 'vacuum cups Ktlirollghthe"vacuumline,lig. 8, to .the Pyrexrmilk receiver 1.5. .This is :held suspended rorn a weighing scale .32 .secured by ,1a :support fifa from the :top cover 18. :The nnilk `:receiving tank '1.5 has a ibase 18.0, Fig. 12, mid vagreducecl diameter .bottom '513. ".'Ihere is atop gasket-,1H and afbottom gasket 18|.. There :are l2'ten'sionrods 11.9 which arepositioned beneath the outlet portionfof vvthe There istanadiustingfscrew 83 :orputting tension :cnthe rods 1.9 :and theicover f1.6. The 'inletfpipezt extends :up iinto the tank 'l5 'fto near :thetop .ogitrby vtliepipe 85, vand from the foutlet :82thereisfaisanitary milk l.line 8 with -a control y'valve init 81. This .'86 linefleadsizto-tank 89.

Iln many :of 'the figures :the isizes of :inter-conne'ctingpip'eis "more oriless diagrammatic. AIn

lthe fmain, 'they are .smaller in diameter .than 'is i fshowninthedrawings.

Access '.-to itheifpt .is .by :means of ia nladder :94 zshownzonlig. 19.

'The-.self lockingv feature .shown -on;Fig.,10 may also n'be :attained tin Figs. :l5-.16. `In some in- :stances .the fself locking zfeature of Fig. `20 fmay valso supplant "the :electric latc'hing .device .shown eonlFig. 1:18

:weighingjars 1:5` ane locatedfandsupported 'in lJarry :desired .'manner :for :instance as shown in Fig. 11.9 :wherein 4.theyliave Vthe vertical member '24 to .extend .upwards :'diagrammatically. 'They :are shown .in Fig. .-1 also LThe `Weighing :scales 32 'will face ithe attendant so as *to makev Titian easy .matter tto note 'the milk Y.Weight 4but fthey fare located fin the .corner 4or" the rpit f out .of the way -offtheoperator.

'The horizontal :adjustment of the V:milk Vre- :cvingpan shown'lonFig. rlO makes'it possible :to position the pan `to 'accommodate dierent size fanim'als :regardless .of .changes that exist either Sin horizontal dimensions or differencesin height fof the .coWs 'udders, the latter Abeing taken care fcf byfthe :raisingland lowering o'f the :milking attachment as shown in Eig. i9 and `in Fig. i9.

Fig. 'T21 .on Sheet 7.2 is a .diagrammatic `ligure @showingithe :inter-.relation tbetween the vdifferent -parte offmylmilking system.

Aiiicold water pipe 4B is shown-:on Fig-:9 and a Jvacuum line connection' S5Lis :appearing fon Fig.

Itis--essentifal to note v that avery important "feature "of Amy invention/lis the provision 'for -rhandlingithe.milk'irom thetime it is taken from ithe cowto theweighing jar and through to the V`storage tank .Without exposure to atmospheric wallsof :the jar, .which 4Will extract ,any vestig :offoXygen` that4 may `be present. l

. zthe `raising Vand :lowering of :the milking :equipment shown vin -9 iand .19 should dt be found v inccmvenient :for .the "operator Ato I'use -both hands, one to move the crank VJI2 and lever ,1.4 with the :other hand, the operation may he simplified .so Ythat one hand may bej free by -;con nectinga rWire ;to thelever 14 'and to 'a .ffoot .leve not'shown.

`The milk :receiving pan 52 shown -in .Fig. .1.4 may be `Asubstituted .by Yany .other device Ifor `direct delivery of milk A.from the Y.teat .cups .to I.the `Weighingar.

Whatl claim is:

l. A milking -`parlcrior plural r-milkingof cows by ta :single .operator comprising, a substantially square room havin-g `barrier Walls V,and a floor `for accommodating .the cows to be milked, a -substantially -squar-e operators pit .in/the center of the floor .for accommodating the operator at substantially .eye ;lev.el with the .udders Lof` .the

cows, .four lcow .-stalls supported onl the :floor with -a-'coW stall locatedateach edgerof -the operatorfs .pit and extendingbeyond the edge fof the .oper- -ator-s pit .tofoverlap sa r portion of Ythe :next v.suc-

ceeding coW stall, each cowstall including :an

vinner barrier at `the .edge ,of .the pit, 4an outer barrier spacedy from .theinnerfbarrier .to ac-f con-imo dateva` cow therebetween, anentrancegate and Aan exit gate, vthe outer barriers .ofthe .cow stalls .being y.spaced `from the vbarrier .Walls `of vthe substantially square .room .to :provide a .nor-

.of the .coW stalls, and :mechanisml operatively associated with `.the .entrance and .exit .gates .and controlledirom theoperators,pitorindividually yopening .and closing .the .entrance .and .exit rgates of each cow stall.

.2. A milking `parloror pluralmilking .of cows b y .a single operator comprising,v a substantially .square .room having barrier walls Aand y-a floor foraccommodating .the cows .to'be milked, va .sub-

Astantially square operators pit `in the ,center o'f the flooror accommodating theroperator at substantially eye .level with the udders of the cows, four cowstalls supportedon the floor Witha cow .stall locatedat eachedge of the -operators Apit and `extending beyond the edge ofthe operators .pit to overlap aportion of the next succeeding .cow stall, .each cowstall including an inner barrier at the `edge o'f the pit, anV outer 'barrier spaced fromthe innerbarrier .to accommodate a .cow therebetween, an .entrance gate l and an exit gate, the outer 'barriers 'ofthe cow stalls .being spaced .from the barrier Walls v.o'f 'the .sub-

stantially .square .room to .provide -a normally uninterrupted cow passage about the cow stalls, the rentrance .and I.exit gates of the cow stalls ,being .hinged .at the outer A.barriers of the cow `stalls tobe swung outwardly'intotheoowrpassage .toward .the barrier WallsV o`f the nsubstantially .squareroomifor directingcovvs in a single direc- Vtion in the cow Ypassage and into .and out .of'the .cow stallsmechanismoperatively associated with .the entrance andexit `gates and `controlled from .the operators -pit .'for `'individually opening and .closing the entrance and exit gates of each cow stall, and .an entrance and. .ex'it .cow .runway entering the .substantiallysquare room adj acent one corner thereof andhaving a centralbarrier extending vacross the cow passage to .a ,pointlbe- 9 tweeny lthe nearestA ventrance fgaie; of one' eow stall and the nearest .exit gate fet-an :adjacent COW Stall.- L

QQ.; I

3. Amilking parlor 'for .plural milkingof cows by a single operator comprising,;a iloorfor accommodating the cows `to be milked, a substantially squareoperators pit inthe center of the floor for accommodating4 the operator, four cow stalls, supported on the oor with a vcow stall locatedat each edge ofc-vthesubstantially square operators pit and including an inner barrier at each edgeof the substantially square operators pit for formingthe innervbarriers of the -four cow. stalls, each linner berriereXtendng felwardlybeyond euch; edge of the; .operaters Dit to form a rear barrier for eachnext .succeeding cowstall, an outerbarrier parallel to and spacedY fromv each inner :berries and.. extending ,from e peint. fsubstantiallr .in line .Wth the forwardly extendingVf end of thejnnerwbarrier toa point shortof the rear barrier itoyaccommodate,aa cow therein, en entrance gate fer ffeaeh; een ,Stell hineedat therear. end eitlieeuter-barrier and closing ,againstl the extending: end oft the vrear barrier, an exit gated for eachucowkstallhinged atv the forward end of the outerbarrier andclosing against the forwardly extending end of jthe inner barrier, a substantially* square external barrier spaced fromI the outer l-loarriers of the four cow stalls toprovide `af-normally1uninter ruptedfcewf -passage ,alegue the 00W Stelf'ihe hinged entrance andv e, 'tasatee ef thefellr COW stalls, opening-outwardlyinto thecow passage 'l0 and an entrance and vexit vcow runway entering the cow passage adjacent one cornerthereo'f and having a central barrier extending across the cow passage to the forwardly extending end of the inner barrier'nearest thereto.

5.v A milking parlor forplural milkingof cows by a single operator comprising, a substantially squarerroomhaving barrier Walls land a licor Afor accommodating the cows to bemi'lked, afsubstantially square .v operators *pit in the rcenter of the `iloor for accommodating the Voperator at substantially eyelevel with. the udders ofv the cows, four cow stalls vsupported on the floor with a cow stall located ateach edge of the operators pit and extending beyond the edgeof the operators pit to overlap a portion ofthe next succeeding cow stall, each cow stall vincluding an inner barrier at the edge Vofwthe pitav'an louter barrier spaced from the innerbarrier to accommodate a cow therebetween, an entrance fgate andan exit gate, the outerbarriers of the cow stalls beingspaced fromthe barrier vwalls of the substantially square room toprovide a normally uninterrupted cowA passage. about the cow stalls,

the entrance and exit gates of thecowfstalls being hinged at thehouter barriers of the cow stalls to be swung outwardlyv into the cow `passage toward the barrier: 4wallsrfvof the .substantially squareroom for directing cows ina single direcg tion inthe cow passage and intoandoutof the cow stalls, az curb extending upwardly vfrom the floor Aabout the edge of r the Y substantially;Y square y operator-s pit,.thefloor sloping-gradually downfor directingcowsina single direction in the cow passage and into andout rci thecow stalls, and-mechanism `operatitfely associated with the entrance andexitgates and controlled from vthe operatorsY pitorv individually-opening and` closing the entrance and exit gates of each cow stall.

4. Amilleing parlor for plural milking of cows by a single operator comprising, a oor for accommodatingxthe .cowsito behmilked, a substantially square operators pit in theV center of pitplto form a, rear Ybarrierjor;each next sucitoa .point's'hort oi the rearibarrier to .accommodate'a cowtherein, an 4entrance gate foreach vcow stallfhinged at Athe rear'en'd of theeouter barrier andclosing. against z the-fextendingn end oftheirear'fbarrier, an exit gate; for eachcow stallfhinged.` at vthe forwardfnd of the w".,out'er barrier and closing against ,the forwardly extending end of the inner barrier; a substantially square external barrier spaced from the outer 'barriers of the four cow 'stallsto' lprovide a normally uninterrupted ,cow passage about the cow stalls, .the-hinged `entrance andexit gates of the vfour cowst'alls opening'outwardly into'the' lcow passage -for directing lcowsinlasi'ngle direction in the cow passage and into an'doutof Ythejcow stalls, mechanism operatively associated with the entrance and exit gates and controlled from the operators pit for individually opening and closing the entrance and exit gates of each cow stall,

wardly `from;thhefcurb tothe barrier V:Walls of the substantially square room, and an vopen drain in the iooradjacent the barriern'walls of thecroom andV extending laroi'incl the room for draining the gradually sloping floor in a direction away fromtheoperators pit.

6. A milking parlonforplural milking of cows by a single operator` comprising, lasubstantially squarecroorn hayingbarrier walls and a vfloor for accommodating thecows to lbermilked, Va substantially square -operators pit l in the center of the iloorA for accommodating the operator at substantially eye` levelwith fthe udders of the cows, four cowstalls supported on the iloor with, aeew Stall leeeiedet eeeley edge ef the. operators pitand `extending beyond!v the edge of the -operatorsvpit to overlap a portion of the'next succeeding cowstall, each 'cow stall including an inner barrier lattl'ieedgeof thev pit, an outer barrier spa-ced from; the. inner barrier to accommodatea cow'therebetween, an entrance gate and anJexi-t gate, the `router barriers of the cow stalls being fspaced yfrom the barrier walls Of the-'substantially square roomfto provide a normally uninterruptedcow passage about the cow stalls,.thelentrance and exit gates of the cow stalls bei-ng hinged atjthe outer barriers of thecow stalls to befswungoutwardly into the cow passagev toward the barrier walls of the substantiallysquare room for directing cows ina single; direction 4in-thefcowV passage and into and out ofthe cow stalls, a curb extending upwardlyv from the oor aboutl the edge ofv the substantially square operators pit, the floor sloping gradually downwardly from the curb to the lbarrier walls of the VVsubstantially square room, an lopen stall .drain .in the oor 'along' each outer barrierof eachstall and-A extending toward the barrier walls ofthe room; and an open drain inthe'flooradjacent':the Abarrierfwalls of the room and communicating with the stall drains and extending around the room for draining the floor overhanging the vpit'to provide freedom of movement of the operator 'at the edges of the pit and the overhanging portion of the floor having anrupwardly extending curb to prevent the cows froni'slipping into the pit, four cow stalls supported 0n the floor with acovv stall located at each edge of the operato'rs pit and extending beyond the edge of the operators pit to overlap a portion of the Anext succeeding -cew stall,- yeach COW stall including an inner barrier on the curb at the edge of the pit/an outer ,f

barrier yspaced from the inner Vbarrier to ac-Y commodate a cow therebetween, an entrance ga and an exit gate, the outer barriers of the cow stalls being spaced frrn the barrier walls 'of the substantially square roomY to provide a normally uninterrupted'cw passage about the cow stalls, the entrance and exit gates of thecow stalls being 4hinged at the outer barriers of the cow lstalls vto be swung outwardly into the cow passage toward the barrier walls of thesubstantiallysqiiare roor'n for directing cows ina single direction in thev -e'ow passage and into` and out of the cow stalls, 'the upwardly extending curb at the edges of the operati"s pit being provided with recesses :dear the rear 'of l each Stall to provide ready access `to the udders of the vcows'frorn the operators pit, and mechanism operatively associated with the entrance and exit gates and controlled from the operators pit for individually'op'ening and closing the entrance and exit gates Iof each Ace'w stall.

3. A'milking parl i'o plural milking O'f cWs by a single operator comprising, a substantially square roem having barrier walls and a oor lfor accommodating the cws to be milked, a Substantially Square optrs pit in the Center 'of the floor for acc'inrnodating the operater at substantially eye level'Witl-ithevuddersV of the cws, the Aflor Overharigir'ig the Dit te prvid -f`erd0rxV ofrmoveinent ef the operatorv at the edges ef the lpit and the overhanging prtif'iiil f tli 511601' liavi'ng anupwardly extending Yc'snrb te prevent the cows from slipping inte Atlieliit; fbur cow stalls supported on the flor with a cw stall lC'at'ed at each 'edge'f the pei't'rsjpit and extending beynd the edge o'ffthe perators pit to overlap a portion f the han 'sueeeeaing cow stall, `each cow stall including an inner barrier on the urb at the edge f the pit,- an outer barrier spaced fro'mthe inner barrier te v*accommodate a cow therebetween, an entranee g'ate and an exit'vgate, the Aenter barriers f the cow Stalls beingV 'spaced vfCiIri the barrir'lwalls f the substantially sqn'a're roem to provide a norinally uninterrupted co'w passage about the cow stalls, the entrance `and exit gates of the cow stalls being hinged at the 'outer barriers of 'the cow Vstalls 'to be swung outwardly into the cow passage toward 'thebarrier walls of the substantially square renin for directing cows in a single direction in the cow passage and into and Yout of the cw stalls, 'the upwardly rextending curb at the edges ofthe operators pit being pr'Vidd Witlfc'is's'y near the V4rear 0f each stall' tepivide ready 'al'cciess'r ieth'e lidders .0f the cows from the operators pit, a milking machine fory eac-hV 66W' Stall maIi-pulatable by the operateur froii the prats' pit, a Weigh jar operatively associated with eaeli milking' inachine and accessible to' the operator in the opena-17erspit,` water-eonneetins in the operatorie pit adjacent each 'eew stal-l, p ipeS'v-lcated under the overhangingportion f the door vextending t the niilkingrnaeliines, Weigh jars andwa'ter connections'fan'd nie'ehanisn epera-'tively' vassociated with the' entrance and exit gates and conftrolled from the ie'iators pit for individually opening and closing the entrance 'and exit gates of eachV COW stall: A

9. `ilking-stll 'stru(Stufel inelding four interz'zonnectedc'ew stalls` adapted to -be carried by a` oor and arranged abutV-i substantially sqiiare 4operators pit in the 'floor' with a cow stall at- Veach edge of the oliraters pit, comprising vinner blarieror each edge of the substan tial'lysduar voperators pit forrning the barriers ofthe four cow stalls,` eaeli inner bare rier extending `'for'\'*`fa1"dly beyondsuch edge of the 'peratrs pit-{to'fr'rn a rear barrier for each succeeding 'cow stalLan oiiter barrier paral-v lel to and l"spaeed Vfrom -eah inner barrier vand extendingfromfa `point substantially in line 'With the fOrW'ardly -eXiJeiidi'I-ig end f the inner barrier te a. point short f the lrear barrier to accoinniodat-e a vc'c'iw therein,- vvan entrance gate ier each cw 'stan hinged at the rear' end er the nelite!" barrier and dosingv against the (3X-'- tending'end of 'the rear briie,and an. exit gate for each cow stall hinged at the forward endro'f the -ou'ter barrier and closing against the forwardly extending `endf the inner barrir-.-

Roye. GRAVES.

- ,REFERENCES miran `'Ile 'fllowin'g reference'sfare of record in the ile 0T this [pa/teilt: Y

VUNITED STATES PATENTS 'Ininbe'rY Name r Date Re. 22,657 Bbsh et al. -,Aug. 7, 1945 1,563,503l June v21,` 1.932 1,915,516 l June 27,1933 1,959,716 f v May 22, 1934 11,963,564 f .1u1y"31-,21934 1,972,144 iia'pggfo'miv sept. 4,1934 1,987,955 Hapgce i Jan. l15, 1935 2,021,591 CI"Cie1"0`yv=--Y .1. NOV. 19, 1935 2,939,562 ShOdr' n ealMay 5, 1936 2,050,356 rMilcorrifk Au'gl'll, :19136 `2,236,851 Haseltbnf.Y a Apll, 1941 2,269,012 DeCarli' Jan. 6, 1942 2,305,259 Jeiers e; A.; a Dec. 15, 1942 2,358,000 Crne11. .l. Sept. 12,1944 2,412,122 Polivka -Y Y i June 7, 1949 'Y s. FO'ltEVI"GN` A'ENIS Number Country Date Y10,734 Great Britain gaat-; lMay 18, 1908 y OTHER :REFERENCES "tarline Milking :Parlor Stall, manufactured jby Sterline, Inc., lformerly HunteHelme'Ferris uand Co., 1n'c.,`Harvard,`111inos. January 2,'1, 1933.

f Farm Implement andjMa'chin'ery Review, Neven'ib'er 1, '1946, v'page 645.. 

